With no game under 244, Ron “Digger” Gardner of Brunswick averaged 253.6 in the five-game sweeper to win the Northern Bowlers Association “Riverfront Insurance Agency Classic” at Olympic Lanes on Sunday, March 30. He led the day with 1,268 to earn $575. The 63-year old Gardner won by 66 pins over Dan Furman of Niskayuna, who averaged 240. There were 41 bowlers.

Of note, Colonie H.S. senior Justin Carl made a statement right out of the box in with a 300. He wound up third overall and earned a $240 scholarship that will go into his USBC SMART account. He more than held his own against some of the top bowlers in the area. Fourth was Matt Sherman, then Travis Winglosky, Craig Schoonmaker, Joe Mazuryk and John Riozzi. And after a 162 opener, former Scaccia Champion Mike Neumann hit four straight 235 games to finish just out of the money.

Gardner also won the latest “Huck Finn” and the 63+ division of the Charlie Bechard senior tournament at Green Island Lanes on March 23 and took home $210. With his win at “Huck Finn” in a scratch show to air this Sunday, when he won $599, Gardner has pocketed $1,384.

NEXT: “Bob Guild Championship,” Sunday, May 4, 9:30 a.m., Del Lanes. Only those bowlers who paid full membership are qualified to bowl.

RIVERFRONT INSURANCE AGENCY CLASSIC ‘14

Ron Gardner 259-259-248-258-244=1,268 ($575)

Dan Furman 193-279-238-246-246=1,202 ($290)

Justin Carl 300-192-204-224-269=1,189 ($240 scholarship)

Matt Sherman 201-263-226-223-236=1,149 ($190)

Travis Winglosky 266-204-280-167-229=1,146 ($140)

Craig Schoonmaker 202-243-258-225-214=1,142 ($100)

Joe Mazuryk 269-214-290-167-198=1,138 ($75)

John Riozzi 226-225-248-206-213=1,118 ($60)

Mike Neumann 162-235-235-235-235=1,102

Dan Rowe 268-228-180-210-210=1,096

Lee Aiezza 192-210-227-234-202=1,065

Paul Dumas Sr. 176-194-203-205-266=1,044

Mike Drexel 187-204-191-225-232=1,039

Tom Reed 134-226-276-226-174=1,036

Jenean Bailey 130-194-246-253-202=1,025

Tim Banta 225-197-195-191-206=1,014

Eric Stangle 217-26-184-203-181=1,011

Kate Gardner 161-183-217-245-205=1,011

Steve Wagoner 177-203-217-199-210=1,006

Rob Danzy 205-183-192-203-218=1,001

Nick Zautner 192-244-201-193-170=1,000

Dan Kryzak 204-174-183-231-201=993

Sonny Dorstek 223-157-223-219-160=982

Brett Szczepkowski 134-269-194-171-202=970

Matt Fazzone 200-189-173-194-213=969

Tim Hunt 201-212-168-157-220=958

Ed Czyzewski 232-174-211-192-148=957

Mark Rathbun 161-196-222-195-183=957

Nunzi Manuli 154-192-200-184-216=946

Mark Kepner 176-210-147-222-183=938

Al Anderson Jr. 178-170-211-134-235=928

Scott Rogers 171-213-207-157-158=906

Mike Pierce 193-190-141-204-168=896

Jim Patricelli 171-162-179-196-180=888

Dwayne Coonradt 178-139-151-212-178=858

Mike DeGenero Jr. 175-182-143-165-188=853

Chris Smith 203-179-134-195-134=845

RIVERFRONT INSURANCE AGENCY WOMEN’S CLASSIC

Jenean Bailey 130-194-246-253-202=1,025 ($175)

Kate Gardner 161-183-217-245-205=1,011 ($100)

Jessica Aiezza 144-208-246-188-213=999

Patti O’Connor 203-186-152-188-178=907

Julie Drexel 191-152-159-174-159=835

SILVER CHARLIE BECHARD MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

Green Island Lanes marked the 25th anniversary of the Charlie Bechard Memorial Tournament on March 20-23. Named after one of the sports biggest promoters and advocates, Bechard was simply known as “The Hand” on the old “TV Tournament Time” show because all you ever saw was his hand giving host Howard Tupper the scores.

Ted Kowalchyk won the age 50-62 division and earned $200 for his 752 for three-games while Ron Gardner rolled 709 and earned $210, bowling scratch in a handicap tournament. There were a total of 66 entries.

RESULTS

Age 50-62 (32 entries)

Ted Kowalchyk – 752, $200

Brian DeMarco – 737

Ed Altrock – 731

Joe Salamida – 730

Bill Dunn – 725

Mark Coonradt – 721

Age 63+ (34 entries)

Ron Gardner – 709, $210

Al Van Vranken – 705

Jon Scott – 699

Mike Dubray – 690

Ernie Kern – 687

Don Rosenkrans – 686

CDYST: THREE TO GO

NEXT TOURNAMENTS: April 12, East Greenbush Bowling Center, 1:00 p.m. and a members-only event Saturday, April 26 at Hi-Way Recreation. Already, CDYST has 61 bowlers eligible for the season-ending 2014 CDYST Masters event, with 27 more still able to qualify.

For more information about the CDYST, please visit their website at www.cdystbowling.com, e-mail tournament directors Mark Taylor and Steve Fawcett at CDYSTinfo@aol.com, or call 518-982-0035. The CDYST can also be found on Facebook.

SEASON RESULTS

2013

September 28: Qwadaris Rembert of Providence, RI won at Spare Time Latham over a field of 38

October 19: Jonathan Bowman of Peru won at Towne Bowling Academy over a field of 43

Nov. 9: Ricky Rovelli of Colonie won at Hometown Lanes over a field of 47

Nov. 23: Casey Schoonmaker of Colonie won at Sportsman’s Bowl in a field of 45

Dec. 14: Justin Carl of Colonie won at Del Lanes in a field of 39.

Dec. 29-30: Jonathan Bowman of Peru won at Towne Bowling Academy in a field of 49 (80 entries); Jonathan Bowman/Austin Van Buren won doubles.

2014

January 4: Ricky Rovelli of Colonie won at Alpha Lanes over a field of 45.

January 25: Jonathan Bowman of Peru won at Imperial Lanes, Amsterdam, a Junior Gold Qualifier, over a field of 40. He had a 300.

February 8: Christopher Hanson of Ballston Lake won at Uncle Sam Lanes, Troy, a Junior Gold Qualifier, over a field of 41.

March 1: Ricky Rovelli of Colonie won at Hometown Lanes, Mechanicville, over a field of 39.

March 22: Casey Schoonmaker of Colonie won at Sportsman’s Bowl, Schenectady, over a field of 59.

April 26: Hi-Way Recreation members-only event (CDYST has 61 bowlers eligible for the season-ending 2014 CDYST Masters event, with 27 more still able to qualify).

May 10: Town ‘N Country, Guilderland, 2014 CDYST Masters, WTBA Atlanta (Sport), 9:30 a.m. It’s open only to CDYST members who compete in at least four tournaments during the season.

ALPHA’S 17TH ANNUAL ROBERT GUILD SR. TRIO

The 17th annual Robert Guild Sr. Trio Tournament begins March 14 at Alpha Lanes. Entry fee is $60. Call 235-4941. Handicap is 90% of 690. First Place: $1,200, pay 1 out of 8 teams. All proceeds are donated to the Northeastern New York Kidney Foundation in the name of Robert Guild Sr.

April 6: The 7th annual April (March) Madness Tournament is at Kingpin’s Alley in South Glens Falls. This bracket style event draws a crowd and offers a top prize of $1,350 (64 spots available). This year they are using the 2014 USBC Open Championships Team event pattern.

Friday, April 18: The 4th Annual “Pins for Pets” for Steve Caporizzo’s Pet Connection Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Spare Time-Latham to help homeless animals. You are asked to bring a food item to help feed them and there will be a silent auction. Contact 785-6694.

Friday, April 25: North Greenbush Kiwanis Club “Bowl-a-Thon” at Hi-Way

Recreation in Wynantskill on Friday at 9:00 p.m. $20/person includes two games, shoes, and pizza. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Contact Samantha at

The biggest change this year for “Huck Finn’s Capital Region Bowling” is the channel. The show’s 10th season will be on WNYA, also known as My4Albany, purchased in the past year by Hubbard Broadcasting and now aligned with WNYT, NewsChannel 13. The hour-long show will still air Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Contact Jeff Segel for more information at 439-7628.

46 entries. 9 cash, top 8 advanced to roll-off quarterfinals. Because of a tie for 8th place in the qualifier, there was a three frame roll-off. Brett and Amanda Szczepkowski defeated Dan and Laura Rotter in that match.

Dan Rowe of Wynantskill beat Joe Mazuryk back on Sunday, January 19, 258-214, to become King of the Hill.

Recap: Nick Galusha averaged 230 and was the high qualifier off the five-game sweeper to lead the squad and automatically advance to the semifinals with his 1,149. Next was Brian LeClair (226.6 avg.) of Albany followed by Tony Palumbo (224.8 avg.) of Schenectady. They earned first round byes in the rolloffs.

Just before racing season starts, Saratoga Strike Zone will host a big two-day event – “The Essential Elements to Scoring & the Truth about Drilled Balls.” World-renowned coach Mo Pinel from RADICAL Bowling Technologies will help you knock down more pins by understanding the most crucial elements to scoring in the modern game. Learn about what really matters, from ball dynamics to pattern specific strategies.

It will be held at Saratoga Strike Zone, 32 Ballston Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, Sat. July 12-Sun. July 13. The cost per person (cash only) is $95 (Saturday only) includes lunch, ($40 Deposit); Saturday & Sunday - $150 with $60 deposit. Deposits are non-refundable after June 1. Discount coupons on RADICAL balls for all attendees plus discount hotel rates for seminar attendees, courtesy of the Saratoga Hampton Inn. For signup and more information, please contact Eric Morrett (518-878-3508) or megamav@bowlingchat.net.

ARLINGTON, Texas – For young bowlers looking to compete at the collegiate level, the Bowling Combine for College Prospects has become a premier summer event to attend. College bowling coaches also have found it to be a great place to evaluate bowlers.

Applications now are being accepted for the 2014 Bowling Combine, which will take place July 22-26 at the International Training and Research Center, the home of Team USA. The annual event was developed to bring together youth bowlers who want to compete at the collegiate level and college coaches looking for bowlers who might fit into their programs.

Student-athletes who have collegiate eligibility remaining and have completed at least their freshman year in high school can submit an application. Space is limited, and the application deadline is April 26.

“We expect to have another great pool of applicants this year,” said Rod Ross, head coach of the ITRC and Team USA. “The student-athletes selected to participate will receive a great evaluation of their skills, plus, they will have the opportunity to meet with some of the top collegiate coaches in the country.”

The Team USA coaching staff uses the state-of-the-art tools at the ITRC to evaluate the skills of the student-athletes through tests such as shot repeatability, release ratio, spare proficiency, breakpoint management, vertical leap and balance.

The student-athletes receive an objective analysis of their skills that includes a Performance Evaluation Test (P.E.T.) score that can be used to compare all student-athletes who have attended a Bowling Combine. The bowlers also receive a recruiting kit that includes video shots, bowler variables measured and a detailed report of personal data collected at the Bowling Combine.

Last year, coaches from 30 collegiate programs took part in the Bowling Combine. Gary Sparks, who led Vincennes University to a runner-up finish at the 2013 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championships, said three of his six incoming players for the 2013-2014 season were at the 2012 Bowling Combine.

“I go to a few other camps and clinics and obviously watch bowlers at tournaments, but this gives me a perspective of a tryout atmosphere,” Sparks said after last year’s Bowling Combine. “We don’t get a chance to see that in any other type of setting. You get a chance to really see the players, know who they are and get a one-on-one situation with them.”

Coaches in attendance receive an evaluation of each bowler, plus have the opportunity for one-on-one contact with prospective student-athletes. Coaches must register and attend to receive the evaluations.

College coaches and athletes interested in the Bowling Combine can visit BOWL.com/Combine or bowlingitrc.com for more information and to register.

BOWL FOR THE CURE NAMES ITS FABULOUS FOUR WINNERS

ARLINGTON, Texas – The four winners of the Bowl for the Cure® Fabulous Four essay contest have been determined and soon the winners will embark on the ultimate bowling experience.

Bowl for the Cure®, which works in partnership with Susan G. Komen®, launched the Fabulous Four essay contest so women who have been impacted by breast cancer and/or who have been involved in supporting the fight against breast cancer could share their stories.

As the winners of the Fabulous Four essay contest, Kathy Adams of Bountiful, Utah, Barb Demorest of Bellingham, Wash., Kristal Kelley of Smithfield, N.C. and Shannon Thompson of Spring Creek, Nev., each will receive a five-day trip of a lifetime that will start in Dallas and end at the 2014 USBC Women’s Championships in Reno, NV.

“The Fabulous Four initiative has been a very exciting part of our Bowl for the Cure® efforts this year,” Eric Kearney, USBC Managing Director of Operations and Administration, said. “Not only is it a chance to give back to those who are part of the fight against breast cancer, but it also is an opportunity to raise awareness on one of bowling’s biggest stages, the Women’s Championships.”

On April 8, the Fabulous Four winners will begin a five-day journey by flying to the Dallas/Fort Worth area where they will get a chance to tour Susan G. Komen’s International Headquarters and visit the International Bowling Campus (IBC). At the IBC, each will receive bowling equipment, a bowling lesson from the Team USA coaching staff and a tour of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.

The winners then will travel to Reno where they will take part in the opening ceremonies of the 2014 USBC Women’s Championships on April 11 and will bowl the team event together.

For more details on the journey of the Fabulous Four winners and to read each winner’s breast cancer story, visit BOWL.com/FabulousFour. For more information on the 2014 USBC Women’s Championships, please visit BOWL.com/WomensChamp.

Bowl for the Cure® is a year-round fundraising and breast cancer awareness initiative sponsored by USBC. Since its inception in 2000, people from across the country have hit the lanes to raise more than $10 million for breast cancer research and awareness.

JUNIOR GOLD PASSES TO BENEFIT YES FUND NOW ON SALE

ARLINGTON, Texas – Beginning this year at the 2014 Junior Gold Championships in Buffalo, NY, all adult spectators will need to have an event pass to enter any of the bowling venues. Spectators 18 and under may attend free of charge. All proceeds from sale of the passes will go to the Youth Education Services (YES) Fund to support youth bowling initiatives.

The YES Fund initiative is a united effort by industry leaders in the sport, initiated by the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and the United States Bowling Congress, dedicated to youth bowling development and marketing. The fund supports programs such as:

The High School Grant Assistance Program – Financial assistance for schools to start a new bowling program or to support those that lost programs

The Students Equipped to Strike (S.E.T.S.) Grant – Provides high school bowlers with quality bowling equipment

USA Bowling Coaching – Provides dozens of seminars each year throughout the country teaching the basic skills needed to teach the fundamentals of bowling to kids

The Bowler’s Ed In-School Program – Introduces the sport to students as a part of their physical education class

A one-day pass will cost $10 per adult and an all-week pass will cost $20 if purchased by July 1. After July 1, the price for the all-week pass increases to $30.

“Every dollar from the adult spectator passes will go directly to supporting grassroots youth bowling programs,” IBC Youth Managing Director of Youth Development Chad Murphy said. “Many premiere youth events charge admission to adult spectators to support kids programs and this change aligns Junior Gold with other similar events. Again, not one dollar goes to operations, it all goes to kids programs in communities.”

Online sales of adult spectator passes are now available. You will be able to purchase your ticket by going to BOWL.com/JuniorGold and clicking on the Competitor’s Guide and then clicking on the “Purchase your 2014 Adult Spectator Passes” link.

If you don’t purchase your adult spectator passes by July 1, you still will be able to purchase them when you get to Buffalo. Passes will be available on-site starting on July 11, but the cost of an all-week pass will increase to $30; on-site prices for daily passes will remain $10. Passes are non-transferable and lost passes will not be replaced.

Passes will not be mailed but can be picked up from July 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo during Junior Gold merchandise sales hours. Those buying an all-week pass also will receive a 2014 Junior Gold Championships lanyard.

Make sure to avoid the lines at the centers and purchase your adult spectator passes by July 1.

GIFT FOR LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS TO 12 USBC YOUTH BOWLERS

ARLINGTON, Texas – Twelve United States Bowling Congress Youth members have been selected to receive Gift For Life Scholarships. The International Bowling Campus Youth Committee selected the scholarship recipients.

Gift For Life Scholarships annually are awarded to USBC Youth members who show the need for financial assistance to obtain a college education. High school students who are USBC Youth members, have a GPA of 2.5 or higher (based on a 4.0 scale) and who could show financial need, were encouraged to apply. Applicants also were asked to discuss their community service, supply two letters of recommendation and submit an essay.

Each of the selected applicants will receive a $1,000 scholarship managed through the SMART program. In honor of the 9/11 heroes, each year two of the scholarships are awarded to children of fire, police, or emergency rescue personnel. This year, five of the recipients are the children of police or firefighters.

The USBC Gift For Life scholarship recipients are:

Anthony Cassonetto, Wantagh, NY

Devon Davis, Gloversville, NY

Brooke Evjen, Eau Claire, WI

Andrew Leavell, Richton Park, IL

Amanda McMillan, Winter Garden, FL

Ashley McMillan, Winter Garden, FL

Brianna Moore, Oak Park, MI

Kelsey Parker, Weston, OH

Brianna Pitre, Saginaw, MI

Nicholas Schroeder, Janesville, WI

Nicole Torres, Natchitoches, LA

Timothy Yates, Hot Springs, AR

Go to BOWL.com/Scholarships to learn more about the Gift For Life Scholarships and additional scholarship opportunities for USBC Youth bowlers.